Machine for stamping boots and shoes.



GORDON & L. E. TOPH-AM. MACHINE FOR STAMPING BOOTS AND SHOES.

APPLIOATIOH FILED DEC. 23, 1903.

Patented June 4; 1912.

, 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W/T/VES' W. GORDON & L. E. TOPHAM. MAGHINE FOR STAMPING BOOTS AND SHOES.

7 APPLICATION FILED DEG. 23, 1903. 1,028,567. Patented June 4, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J 6, M u 5 0 1 A 4. v M p/Z & J

W. GORDON & L. B. TOPHAM. MACHINE FOR STAMPING BOOTS AND SHOES.

APPLICATION IILBD DBO. 23, 1903.

Patented June 4,1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

. W. GORDON & L. E. TOPH'AM. MACHINE FOR STAMPING BOOTS 'AND SHOES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 23, 1903.

Patented June 4, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

MT/VESSZS. My

ITED STATES PA.

OFFICE.

WILLIAM. GORDON, OF BOSTON, AND EAURENCE E. TOPHAM, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSA- CHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A. CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE Eon STAMPING BOOTS AND snons.

" United States, and residents, respectively, of

Boston, in the county of Suffolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts and of Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Machines for Stamping Boots and Shoes, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in theseveral figures. a

This invention relates to stamping machines and particularly to stamping machines adapted for impressing upon the bottoms of boots and shoes monograms, trademarks, price-marks, or other marks or designs, although somefeatures of the invention are applicable to other classes of machines than stamping machines.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved machine which shall be certain and reliable in its operation and which will act with uniform pressure upon the stock regardless of thethickness of the stock.

In a power operated machine employed for stamping the bottoms of boots and shoes it is essential, in order to produce uniform work, that provision be made to enable the machine to adapt itself automatically to different thicknesses .of stock, because even shoes of the same style and grade vary so much in the thickness of the bottom stock that an adjustment which is right for one shoe will produce too light or too heavy an impression on another shoe. In shoes of dif-' .ferent styles and gradesfthe differences in the thickness of the bottom stock are greater. The machine of the present invention is so constructed as to act with entire uniformity upon the stock whatever its thickness.

An important feature of this invention consists in providinga work-support and stamping mechanism, in combination with actuating means for rlativelymoving said members for stamping the work, and means for sustaining one of said members untilthe Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June a, 1912.

Application filed December 23, 1903. Serial No. 186,368. 7 1

pressure upon the work exceeds a predetermined amount, and thereafter permitting said member to yield, so that no greater pressure is applied during the remainder of the stroke of the actuating means. preferred embodiment of this feature of the invention the stamping die is connected with the actuating'means and has imparted to it thereby a uniform stroke toward and from In the the work-support. The work-support is sus- '60 tained by. a confined volume of liquid, the containing cylinder for which is provided with a relief valve adapted to permit escape of the liquid when the pressure transmitted thereto through the work-support becomes excessive. Adjustable means is provided for controlling the relief valve so that the pressure which will be sustained before. the valve will open may be determined at the will of the op'eraton. By this arrangement the work-support will be rigidlysustain'ed against the action of the stamping die, until, during the descent of said die, a pressure has been applied to the work exceeding that for which the relief valve. is adjusted, and

By permitting the liquid to esthe predetermined pressure upon thework during the remainder of the downward stroke of the die. ltIeans is providedjor returning the work-support to its normal po sition during the reverse stroke of the stamping die and the containing cylinder eo for the liquid is provided with an inlet valve which is opened during the rise of the'work support to permit the cylinder to be refilled to compensate for the liquid forced out Y through the relief valve during the descent of the work-support.

.Provision is made for regulating the height to which the work-support is elevated and thereby determining its initial position according to whether a thick or a thin class of stock is to be operated upon. The regu- Q lating means may beso adjusted, if desired, that the work-support will be elevated to a height such that'it will, with a given thickness of stock, be depressed for a considerable distance during each stamping operation. By this means the time during which the stock will be under pressure of the stamping die may be increased to permit the die to imprint itself more thoroughly upon the stock.

The pressure which will be applied to the work by the stamping die before the worksupport is released may be regulated by adjustment of the relief valve according to the requirements of the stock and according 'to .the size and character of the die, greater pressure being required for producinga proper impression from a large die than from a small one.

The machine is provided with operating mechanism of improved construction by which the stamping die is given a relatively slow downward movement, particularly during the latter part ofits descent, to allow it to impress itself thoroughly upon the stock and then is given a relatively. rapid upward movement; By this arrangement the machine may be operated rapidly and yet cause the stamping die to act upon the work by "pressure instead of by impact.

The machine is provided with starting and stopping mechanism by which it is normally caused to make one complete reciprocation of the stamping die and then come to rest.. In some classes of work where great care is required for obtaining distinct im' pressions of the stamping die, asin stamping sample shoes or in stamping stock upon which it is diflicult to get a good impression, it is sometimes desirable to allow the die to remain in pressing contact with the work for a longer period than provided for in the A feature of the present invention conslsts "45 \in constructing the operating mechanism so that, if desired, the machine may be caused to stop automatically with the die at the lowest point in its descent, whereby the die may remain in pressin contact with the work until the machine is restarted.

These and other features of the invention, including details of construction and combinations of'parts, will be fully explained in the following description and pointed out in in section the preferred form of sustaining means therefor. Fig. 4 is a view on the line 4-4 of Figs. 1 and 3, being a section atv i Q right angles to the section shown in Fig. 3.

Fig.5 is a rear elevation of the machine, with certain parts in section. Fig. 6 isa view'of the clutch which we prefer to use, as seen by looking to the leftfrom'the dotted line 6- -6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 isa view similar to Fig. 6 with the parts in difierent positions. Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line 88 of Fig. 6. Fig. 9'is a sectional view on the line 99 of Fig. 6, and shows the means employed -for adjusting a controlling cam shown in Fig. 6 and hereinafter described. Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9, showing the parts in positions which they assume I The frame of the machine is indicated at 2 and is suitably shaped to stand upon the floor, being of a height to bring the stamp ing mechanism within convenient reach of the workman. In an overhangingarm 4 at the upper end 'of the frame is mounted a plunger 6 supporting at its lower end a turret 8 which carries, preferably,- a plurality of stamping dies. .The stamping dies may be provided with suitably shaped faces for impressing upon the work, such as the bot.- tom of a boot of shoe," any desired trademarks or other marks. The turret is provided with shallow recesses'12 in its side and the plunger 6 supports a spring-pressed lockingpin 14 adapted to take into one or another of the recesses 12 for locking the turret in adjusted position with the desired stamping die in position to act upon the work. The plunger is forked near its upper end, as at 20, to receive the end 22 of an elbow-lever is actuated or reciprocating the plunger by mechanism hereinafter described in detail.

The plunger is providedjwith a cap-piece 28 secured to the upper ends of its forks by bolts 30 and the cap-piece has a dependin ivoted at 24. The elbow-lever .1

portion to be engaged by the upper face o .the elbow-lever 22 for raising the plunger.

Work-supporting means is provided for supporting the work against the action of t the plunger and its stamping dies. As here-. in shown, the work-supporting. means comprises two horns 40 and 41', either of which maybe used as-vdesired. 'The horn 40 is a -crookedor bent horn of the shape usually employed for supporting ashoe while the forepart thereof is being' operated upon",

This horn is swiveled to turn in an arm 42.

the eflPPllCfitlOD of the work thereto and then into position to put the work under the stamping dies, as will bereadily understood from Fig. 1 of the drawings. The horn 41 is a straight horn adapted to be removably applied directly to the head of the spindle 44 and comprises besides the upper section or horn proper a base piece or cap 43 adapted to fit over a stud 45 on the head of the spindle 44. The upper section is hinged to the base piece to permit it to be tipped to allow the work to be applied conveniently thereto. The horn 41 is particularly adapted for supporting the rear portion of a shoe while the heel is being stamped. When the horn 41 is to be used the horn 40 may be turned out of the way, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. When the horn 40 is to be used the horn 41 may be lifted from the stud 45 and removed from the machine or it may be tipped to one side, as shown in Fig. 1, in which position it is out of the way of the horn 40. J

The spindle 44 of the work-supporting means is guided through the upper arm of a bracket 46 secured-to the machine frame 2 and extends at its lower end into a cylindrical bearing 50 formed in said bracket.-

The lower portion 48 of the spindle 44 is slightly reduced in diameter forming a shoulder located a short distance below said arm of the bracket 46. A collar 52 rests against the said shoulder and constitutes an abutment for a spring 54. The lower end ofv the spring rests upona collar 56 which" surrounds loosely the lower portion ofthe spindle and rests upon the upper end of the cylindrical hearing. The spring 54 serves to restore the work-support to its normal osition after it has been forced downward y excessive pressure, as hereinafter explained'. The normal elevation to which the work-support is lifted bythe spring 54 is determined by a stop-rod 55 having bearing in the bracket 46 and screw-threaded engagement' with the arm 42. The initial or normal position of the work-support may be varied to suit thick or thin classes of work by adjustment of the stop rod The stoprod alsoconstitutes means for preventing the bracket 42 from turning on the.

spindle 44. 4

- In the preferred form of the invention herein disclosed the work-support is sustained by a confined volumeof liquid. "To

this end the bearing '50 is a cylinder normally closed at its lower end and filled with liquid and the spindle 44 has secured to its lower endv a pistdn-head fitting the cylinder closely. As shown in the drawings, the lower end ofthe piston-head 60 is reduced tion of the piston-head and the walls of the cylinder and a suitable packing 61 is secured to the lower end of the piston-headby suitable means such as a clamping plate 66 and screw bolt 68. The packing 61 consists of a body portion and a marginal portion, the latter portion being folded outwardly to form the part 65, and then backwardly with relation to the body portion to form the part 64. As shown the-packing extends over "the lower end of the piston, butthis is not essential. The packing extendsinto the annular recess 63 with the part 65 at the upper side of said recess When pressure is exerted on the liquid, the packing is forced firmly into contact with the wall of the cylinder and leakage between the piston and the cylinder reduced to a minimum. Any suitable liquid may be employed in the cylinder, although we prefer to use oil for this purpose. The liquid in the cylinder serves to sustain the work-support with rigidity against the action of the dies in pressing upon the work with the necessary pressure for stamping the work.

In order to adapt the machine for stamping varying thicknesses of work uniformly without special adjustment the means now to be described is provided for releasing the work-support and allowing it to descend whenever a predetermined pressure, such as that required for properly stamping the work, is exceeded. The cylinder has connection througha channel 70, see Fig. 14,- with a relief valve; which comprises the plate 78 held against the outer end. of the sleeve 74, in the throat of the chamber 76, by the head 80 of a valve rod 82. A spring 84 is mounted between a flange on the head 80 and a coiiperating flange on the valve rod 82. The shank of the valve rod has a screwliquid. The hand-wheel has a flange pro:

.vided with graduations 88 and a lug 89 projects from the cylinder 50 over said flange 1n order to enable an operator to gage the extent of adjustment/Of the valve rod by ob-. serving the relative ositionof said-gradu; ations and the end 0 the lug. The chamber 76 communicates through a ,channel 7 7 with a tank 79 containing a supply of the liquid with which the c Iinder is supplied. By

this construction t e work-support and the work thereon will be rigidly sustained against the action of the stamping dies until a predetermined pressure is exceeded, such pressure being determined by the adjustment of the spring 84. .Whenever the said predetermined pressure is exceeded, as when the .stock being stamped is thicker than that for which the work-support is adjusted so that the'predetermined pressure'of the die upon the work is secured before the die-carrying plunger 6 completes its downward stroke, then the relief valve will be opened and the work-support will move freely downward with the plunger durin the remainder of its downward stroke so t at no greater pressure will be applied to the work, no matter what the thickness of the stock may be.

That is to say, if the machine is adjusted to receive stock of a given thickness and stock is inserted which is of greater thickness, the stamping die will meet the thicker stock earlier in its descent than itwould have met the thinner stock and will press upon 1t until the pressure is reached for which the relief valve is adjusted, after to be noted .that'the work remains under the predetermined pressure. while the work-support is moving downwardly. By this arrangement the-time during which the stamping die'remains in pressing contact with the work may be varied, if desired by varying the initial position of the wor -support so that it will be forced down a greater or less distance at each stamping operation. I

' In the event that the work presented to the 'machine is thicker than that for which the work-support is .adjustedso that the spring 54 will, upon the upstroke of the plunger, elevate the work-support and the pressure during the downward stroke of the stamping plunger exceeds'the pressure for which the spring of the relief valve is adjusted anda portion of the liquid is forced out of the cylinder by the descent of the work-support and the. piston-head 60, the

piston-head. In order to permit the cylinder to be refilled with the liquid said cylinder has connection, bymeans of achannel 90, see Fig. 3, with a well 92 in which is situated a" valve 9.4 which permits the liquid,

as the iston rises, to be drawn back into the cyllnder by suction from the chamber 76 and tank 79,"as indicated by arrows'in Fig. 3. The 'cyhnder '50 is provided nearit's upper end with an annular groove -51 having connection. through a channel 53 with .the

tank 79. The groove 51 w1ll receive any liquid which leaks around the piston and will allow it to escape into the tank.

"For actuating the die-carrying plunger 6 the elbow-lever, which is pivotedat 24 to the machine frame, carries on its lower arm 100 a roll 102 arranged to engage a cam 104,

see Figs. 1 and 5.- .The said lower arm 100 has also a branch-106 provided at its lower end with a roll 108. for engaging the cam 109 mounted'adjacent to the cam 104 and shaped, with relation to. said cam 104, so that the points of contact of the rolls 102 and 108' with said two cams will be always the same distance apart, whereby the said elbow-lever is swung in both directions by thesaid cams without any lost motion. The branch 106 is pivotally connected to the arm 100 of the lever at 110 and has lugs 112 and 114 located respectively above and below .said pivotal connection andarranged to be engaged by adjusting screws 116 by means of which said branch may be turned about itspivot to adjust its lower end to compensate for wear of the cams. j

Y The cams 104 and 109 are mounted upon a shaft 120 having bearing in the frame of the machine and provided atone end with a gear 122 which meshes with'a pinion 124 on the driving shaft 126. The driving shaft is mounted in bearings in the machine frame below the shaft 120 and carries at its end opposite the .pinion 124 a drivingpulley 128 mounted to rotate freely thereon. The

driving pulley 128'is arranged to be connected with the driving shaft by means of a clutch of the typ known as the Horton clutch. The clutch as herein shown, comprises a hardened steel ring 140 secured in a recess in the left-hand face of the pul- 'ley hub, see Figs. 5 and 8, and forming for the purposes of this description a portion of the pulley. The" pulley, together with the said ring, will be herein referred to as the The fast clutch loose clutch member. member 142 comprises a sleeve keyed to the shaft and having a reduced portion 144 extending into the loose clutch member. The external diameter of said reduced portlon is less than the internal diameter of the ring of the loose clutch member, and in the space between these two parts are arrangeda plurality .of rolls 148 and also a corresponding number of segmental lugs 150 projecting from one face of a sleeve 152. The sleeve 152 is loosely mounted on the reduced por;

tion of the sleeve 142 (as shown most clearly 12'0 in Fig. 8), and has in its faceopposite that y from which thelu p v groove 154, see lines in Figs. 5 an'd 8 and dotted lines in Fig. 6. In the groove 154 are arranged springs 156eachsecured.

- at one end to pins 158 projecting from.,.th'e

fast clutch member 142 and attached at their other ends to pins 160 extending' from the 150 project an annular- 1O member are ta ering in width, being at their was larger ends wider than the diameter of the rolls 148 and at their smaller ends of less width-than the diameter of the rolls. This arrangement is such that when-the rolls are in the wider portion of the recesses 170 the loose clutch member may rotate freely with relation to the fast clutch member, but when the rolls are moved into the narrower portion of. the recess, they will be wedged between the converging faces of the recess,-

that is, between the camfaces 168 of the fast clutch member 142 and the inner face of the. hardened ring of the loose clutch member 128,thereby locking said loose and fastclutch members together so that the latter together with the driving shaft shall be rotated. The springs 156 above described tend to turn the sleeve 152 in the direction (indicated by the arrows) to cause 1 the segmental lugs 150 to force the rolls into the narrow part of the recesses L70.

Thesleeve 152 is provided with a lug or shoulder 172; adapted to be engaged by a stop device, hereinafter'described,for turning said sleeve and thereby moving the seg-' mental lugs to force the rolls 148 out of wedging contact with the faces of the fast and loose clutch members and into the wide portion of the recesses 170, as shown in' Fi 6, whereby to disengage the said clutc members and permit the driving shaft to come to rest. When the stop device is withdrawn from the shoulder 172 to release thesleeve 152, the springs 156 immediately rotate the sleeve in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 7 to force the rolls into the nar- "pinion 124, carried respectively by the cam row portion of the recesses 170 for connecting the two clutch members and startin the;

driving shaft.

The stop for engaging the shoulder 17 2 on 'the sleeve 152 comprises a lever 180 moimtv engaged by a hook on a rod 186 which is' ed on a fixed pivot 182. The lever is-provided on its short arm with a lug 184,-see

dotted lines in Figs. 6 and 7, adapted to be connected with a foot treadle 188, see Fig. 6 and Fig. 1. Bv depressing the foot treadle the rod 186 and the short arm of the lever 180 are drawn down to lift the end which acts as a stop out of the path of the shoulder 172 on the sleeve 152 and permit the springs 156 to rotate said sleeve for causing the fast and loose clutch members to be locked together. For preventing excessive jar when the shoulder 172 meets the lever 180, for causing the machine to be unclutched the lever is provided with a yoke-shapedspring 190, the free end of which extends down in front'of; the end of the lever in position to be engaged by the shoulder 172-and check the momentum of the moving parts before the shoulderrbrings up rigidly against the end of the lever. S

It is desirable to insure that the machine shall come to rest after one complete reciprocat-ion of the die-carrying plunger 6 in order to avoid the possibility of the work being injured by a second impression of the die upon it. To this end provision is made for disconnecting the treadle-rod 186 from the stop-lever 180 immediately after thelever has been lifted to allow the clutch members to be connected, and for holding said treadle-rod out of operative engagement with the stop-lever until a complete operation of the machine has taken place. This insures that if the operator accidentally depresses the treadle during the operation of the machine he will not lift the stoplever 180 at a time which would permit the shoulder.172 to pass it and allow the machine to make a second operation.

For effecting the disengagement of the rod 186 from the lever 180 the rod is guided through acontr'olling lever 192 mounted on a fixed pivot 194. The controlling lever is provided with a roll 196 arranged to enga e an edge cam 198. The roll 196 is he d against the cam by a'spring 200 which connects the levers 180 and 192. The cam 198 is so shaped that after the machine has been started the treadle-rod is forced out of connection with the stop-lever and held out until a rotation of the shaft has been proximately completed, thus reducing the danger thatv the operator, by accidentally stepping on the treadle, may lift the stop-lever and permit the machine to make a second impression on the work.

The relativesizes of the gear 122 and the shaft andlt-he driving shaft, are such that three revolutions of the' driving shaft and pinion are required to produce one complete rotation of the gear 122 and cam shaft for causing one complete reciprocation of the die-carrying plunger 6. Provision is, therefore, made for automatically lifting and holding the stop-lever 180 out of the path of the shoulder 17 2 of the clutch sleeve while said. shoulder is passing the stoplever during the. first and second revolutions of the driving shaft. To this end the lever 180 has a third arm 202 provided with a ,cam roll 204 arranged 'to engage a cam 206. The'cam 206 is shown as carried by the cam shaft 129 and shaped and positioned to lift 25 to obtain distinct impressions of the stamp ing die it is sometimes desirable to allow the the lever 180'out of the path ofthe shoulder 172 when said shoulder is passing said lever, and in the normal operation of the machine to hold said stop-lever 180 elevated until the shoulder has passed it a second time and then to allow said lever to descend and stand in the path of the shoulder for causing the machine to be stopped at the end of the third rotation ofthe main shaft, at which Thereafter the plunger is rapidly elevated to'its position of clearance for releasing the work and permitting its removal. In some classes of work where great care 1s requlred die to remain lon er in pressin contact with the work. n order to a apt the 'machine for such work the cam 206 for holding the lever 180 out of the path of the shoulder 172 is made in two parts, a' and 6,

Sandmeans is] provided for relatively adjusting the two parts a and I) from the posi-',

tion shown in Fig. 7 to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 13. When-the portions .172 passes it twice.

a and I), are adjusted to form a long acting face, as shown in Figs. 6"and 7, the.stop-' lever 180 will be held up while the shoulder parts a and b of the cam are adjusted as shown Fig. 13 to present a short bearing surface the stop-lever will be lifted-while the shoulder passes it once and then will be allowed to descend into the path of the lever and will engage the shoulder and'unclutch the machine at the end of the second revolution of the driving shaft. This stoppage of the machine willvtake place when the plunger carrying the stamping dies is at the limit of its downwardmovement and the work is. under pressure. The machine: will then remain at rest until the operator a ain starts it, when the main shaft will make one revolution for elevating the die-carrying plunger 6 .to'position of clearance and then r automatically come to rest. This ermit's the stamping die to remainv in position of pressure upon the work as long as the wink man may desire.

The cam shaft 120 is bored longitudinally to receive a'spindle 210 which is normally pressed outward, or, to the left: in Figs. 9

and 10, by a spring 212.. The fixed por- When, however, the

tion a of the. cam 206 is loosely mounted on said spindle, being held in rigid position relative to the shaft 120 by a screw 214' which entersthe shaft. The spindle is reduced at its right-hand end, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, and on said reduced end is firmly securedthe movable portion 6 of the cam 206. The head of the screw 214 forms a shoulder on the face of the member a and th member 6 is provided with two recesses 21%, either one of which is adapted .to receive the head of said screw for locking the member I). of the cam in adjusted position. By forcing the spindltothe right, in Figs. 9 and 10, the movable member I; may be pushed away from'the member a to'put it out of contact with the head of the screw 214 and then. said spindle may be turned by means of a handle 218 to adjust the member I) with relation to the fixed member a of the cam. When 1 the spindle is released the spring 212 will cause the movable member I) to be drawn toward the member a to engage one of therecesses 216 with the head of the screw; 214a nd thereby lock the member b .in adjusted position. For the purpose of limiting the turning movement of the spindle for adjusting the member I) the spindle is provided with a collar 220 having shoulders 222 arranged to engage a stop- 224 when the spindle has been turned to bring the movable cam member I) in position to be locked'by the engagement of a recessed portion with the head of the screw 214. 1 I V In operation the work. is applied to one of the work-supports 40 or 41 and properly adjusted thereon'to bring the portion to be heel, under the plunger. The turret carrying the stamping dies is turned to bring the proper die into operativejposition and 15 seured by the locking bolt 14. The operator then depresses thetreadle 188, which, acting through the rod 186, withdraws the stopelever 180 from the path of the shoulder 172 of the sleeve 152. When the stop-lever is stamped, namely, the forepart; shank, or

withdrawn the springs 156 promptly turn the sleeve 152, and, through the segmental lugs 150, force the .rolls 148 into lockin engagemfent with the adjacent faces 0 the fast and loose clutch members, thereby connecting said members together, whereupon will be rotated. As soon as the main shaft has rotated far enough to carry the low portion of the cam 198 away from the roll 196 of the controllin lever 192 said lever will withdraw the ro 186 from operative connection with the stop-lever 180 and hold it. withdrawn durin the remainder of the rotation of the sha tor untilthe shoulder 172 nearly reaches the stop-lever, at which time the roll 196=enters the low .part of the cam the fast clutch member and the main shaft and the rod 186 is reengaged with the stoplever.

ed at each rotation of the main shaft,'the rod being held out of engagement with the stop-lever during the major portion of each rotation to prevent the stop-lever from being accidentally lifted. The stoplever is,

however, acted upon'by the cam 206 to hold it out of the path of the shoulder 172 during. thefirst and, normally, duringthe second rotation of the driving shaft and only permitted to stand in the path of said shoulder during the third rotation of said shaft.

The rotation of the main shaft is communicated to the cam shaft and. the elbow-lever is actuated for forcingthe, diecarrying plunger. 6 downwardlyontq the work upon 'the work-support. The worksupport sustains the work--with. iabsplute,ri-

" plunger in descending applies to the stock "a greater pressure than the relief. valve is adjusted to withstand, then, in either case, as soon as the pressure exceeds that which I the relief valve is adjusted to withstand,

the valve .willbe opened-and will allow the escape of the liquid from 'the cylinder and the work-support will freely descend so long as the pressure applied to the work continues greater than that for which the valve spring is adjusted. This will prevent all danger of the work being injured by excessive pressure applied to 1t and will prevent undue straining Ofx the machine. If the cam 206 is adjusted as shown in Figs. 6

and 7, the die-carrying plunger will be ele-.,

vated after a brief dwell of the stamp upon the work and the machine will then come to rest with the plunger in position of clearance. If, however, the cam 206 is adjusted as shown in full lines in Fig. 13, then thestop-lever 180-will be dropped into the path of the shoulder 172 so as to stop the machine at the end of the second rotation of the main shaft, at which time the die-carrying plunger is in position of'pressure at the limit of its downward stroke. The plunger will then be held down with the die pressing upon the work until the operator restarts the machine, whereupon" the plunger will be elevated and the work-may then be removed from the work-support.

This disengagement and reengagea ment of the rod witlr'the stop-lever is effect-- clearly has been depressed and liquid forced out of the cylinder 50, the work-support will beelevatedby the spring 54 as soon as the plunger. rises ,to relieve the excessive pressure. As the work-support is elevated by said spring the piston-head 60, rising in the cylinder, will draw in through the valve .94

liquid from the tank 7 9 to refill the cylinder so that the liquid in the cylinder will'thgerei after rigidly sustain the work-supp'ort --ain' its elevated position until in a subsequent operation the pressure applied to the stock exceeds that for which the relief valve springis adjusted. It is .to be understood that the work-support might be connected with an actuating levergand the stamping die with the'fluidcontaining cylinder if desired, or that the "fluidsconta-ining cylinder might be interposedbetween the actuating mechanism and. the die or the work-support, in which case the actuated member would come to rest when the predetermined pressure was exceeded and the actuating mechanism complete its stroke by forcing fluid out of the cylinder. We prefer, however, the embodiment of the invention herein specifically described and shown in the drawings.

Having set forth the nature and scopejot our invention and having specifically de-. scribed-a machine embodying the various features thereof intheir preferred form, we

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. In a machine of the class described, a work-support, stamping mechanism, and means for moving said stamping mechanism and work-support relatively for pressing the work, in combination with means for rigidly sustaining'one of said members until a predetermined pressure is exceeded, and additional means readily accessible to the operator-for adjusting said sustaining means to vary the amount of predetermined pressure.

2. A machine of the class described, comprising a work-support, a stamping die, and positively driven actuating mechanism for relatively movin V speed-from positlon of clearance to position of pressure, and then at a greater speed from position of pressure to position of clearance.

3. In a machine for stamping the bottoms of shoes, the combination with a work-support, a stamping die, and actuating mechanism .for relatively moving said support and die from position of clearance to position, of pressure and from position of pressure to position of clearance, said actuatingmecha nism comprising an operating lever,, independent cams for actuating said lever in ops said members at a slow 1 15 of shoes,

posite directions, and means for relatively adjusting said lever and cams; b

4;. In a machine for stamping the bottoms the combination with. a work-support, a stamping die, and actuating mechanism for moving said die toward and from the work-support for stamping and releasing the stock, said actuating mechanism comprising an operating lever, a cam for actuating. said lever to move the die toward the work-support, an arm adjustably mount ed'on said lever, and a second cam engaging said arm for actuating said lever to move the die away from the 5. A stamping machine having, in combination,.a work-support, a stamping die, a driving shaft, an intermediate shaft driven by the driving shaft at a difierent rate of speed from the driving shaft, actuating mechanism interposed between the intermediate shaft and the stamping die for mov- I ing the die toward and from the work-support, and manually controlled means acting automatically to regulate the extent of the continuous rotation imparted to the intermediate shaft, whereby the stamping die may either be brought to rest in engagement with workon the work-support or automatically returned to its initial position remote from the work-support after having momentarily impressed the work.

6. A machine of the class described, comprising a work-support, a stamping die, and mechanism operating to bring the work-support and die into position of pressure, and

stop the machine with the work-support and die in position of pressure, said mechanism also operating when the machine is restarted to return the work-support and die to position of clearance.

7. A machine of the class described, comprising a work-support, a stamping die, actuating mechanism for relatively moving said members to position of pressure and then to position of clearance, and means adapted to be adjusted for causing themaprising .actuating mechanism said members to position of pressure and then to position of clearance, a stop device chine to be stopped with the members in position of pressure or clearance, as desired.

8. A machine of the class described, coma work-support, a stamping die, for relatively moving and adjustable means for controlling said stop device to cause the machine to be stoppedwith the members in position of pressure or clearance,'as desired;v

9. In a machine of the class described, a work-support, stamping mechanism, and means for moving said stampin mechanism and work-support relatively for pressing the work, in combination wlth sustaining means for one of said members, said sustainingmeans 'comprismg a confined volume work-support. L

comprlsing a work-support, .mechanlsm, means comprising a work-support,

of liquid, a relief valve, a spring controlling the relief valve, and means for adjusting the spring, said; machine having provision for indicating the extent of adjustment of said spring. v

10. In a stamping machine, the combination with a work-support, of a plunger and mechanism for actuating the plunger to- I ward the work, said mechanism comprising a controlling device, adapted to be adjusted for causing the plunger to be retracted au-' tomatlcally or to remaln in pressing contact with the work.

11. A machine of theclass described,

stamping for sustaining said members, and. means for moving said members relativel for acting upon the work until a predetermined pressure 1s obtained and then releasing one of said members and moving the two members together while maintaining the predetermined pressure, said machine having provision for returning said released member to initial position with relation to its sustaining means, combined with adjustable means for determining said initialrelative position.

1 12. A machine of the class described, stamping mechanism, means for rigidly sustaining one of said members, means to move said members relatively for acting upon the work until a predetermined pressure is obtained andthen releasing the rigidly sustained member.and moving the two mem bers together while maintaining the prede termined \pressure, in combination with means for returning said rigidly sustained member to initial position with relation to its sustaining means and said other member, and other means for varying the initial position of the rigidly sustained member with relation to its sustaining means, whereby the time during which the work is under pressure may be increased or diminished.

13. A stamping machine comprising a work-support, a die, and means for moving the die relatively to the work-support for stamping the work, in combination with means including a. confined volume of liquid and an automatic relief valve, for sustaining the work-support until a predetermined .pressure 1s exceeded and then allowing the work-support to yield freely, means for thereafter automatically raising the worksupportvto initial position, and means for adjustably determining the extent of said last-mentionedmovement of the work-support. j a

14. In a machine for stamping the bottoms of shoes, the combination with stamping'mechanism and actuating means therefor, of shoe-supporting means comprisin' a member for supporting the forepart o a shoeand a member for supporting the rearpart of a shoe, said supporting 'means being constructed and arranged to permit either head, a bent horn swiveled on thehead and v bers relatively for pressing the work, a conarranged to support a shoe in position -for the forepart to be stamped and a straight horn hinged to the head and adapted to support a shoe in position for the heel to be acted upon by the stamping mechanism.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination with stamping mechanism,

of a work-support having two members for- .supporting different parts of the work under the stamping mechanism, said members being constructed and arranged for relative. movement to permit either to be employed for presenting the part of the Work which it isadapted to support in operative relation to the stamping mechanism, and means for permitting relative yielding movement of said stamping mechanism .and said work-.

support when a predetermined pressure is exceeded, whereby excessive pressure on the work is prevented.

17. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a stamping die, of a work-support, means for moving said memfined volume of liquid for sustaining one of .said members; and mechanism for permit-- ting the escape of a portion of said liquid when a predetermined pressure is exceeded, sa1d mechanlsm conslsting of a valve-seat, a

valve-chamber, a valve in said valve-cham her, a head arranged to hold said valve upon said valve-seat, a rod upon which said head is slidably mounted, flanges on said rod and head, a; spring interposed between said flanges, screw-threads .upon said rod cooperating with screw-threads in the outer -.wall of saidvalve-chamber, and a a handwheel on said rod by which it may be turned to vary the tension of said spring.

18. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a stamping die, of a work-support, means for moving said members relatively for pressing the work, a confined volume of liquid for sustaining one of said members, and mechanism for permitting the escape of a portion of said liquid when a predetermined pressure is exceeded, said mechanismconsisting of a valve-seat, avalve-chamber, a valve in said chamber, a spring to hold said valve yieldingly on its seat, a movable member outside of the valve-chamber, and connections be-.

tween said movable member and said spring whereby the tension of the latter may be varied. v r

19. In a machine of the class described, the

combination with a stamping die, of a worksupport, means for moving said members relatively for press g the work, a piston connected with one of said members, a cylinder for containing liquid and in which said piston fits, a supply tank, an outlet passage leading from said cylinder to said tank, a relief valve in said passage, an inlet passage connecting said tank to said cylinder, and a check-valve in said inlet passage.

20. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a stamping die, of a worksupport, means for moving said members relatively for pressing the work, a piston inder for containing liquid and in which said piston fits, a supply tank, a groove between said cylinder and piston to receive leakage around the piston, and a channel leading from said groove to said tank.

21. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a stamping die, ofa worksupport, means for moving said members relatively forpressin the work, a piston connected with one o sa1d members, a cyl- .connected'with one of said members, a cylinder for containing liquid and in which said piston fits, said piston having an annular recess, a packing in said recess having its marginal portion folded'outwardlyand backwardly with relation to the body portion whereby when pressure is exerted on the liquid the 'acking is forced firmly-into contact with t e wall of the cylinder.

i 22. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a stamping die, of means for operating said die, a stop device by which the machinemay be stopped with the die in difierentpositions, and a controlling mechanism therefor, said controlling mechanism including a shaft, a two-part cam, one of said parts being. secured to said shaft, and adjustable means to which the other part of the cam is connected for movement to vary the length of the active face of the cam said mechanism having provision for retaining the parts of the cam in adjusted position.

23. In a machine of the class described, the

combination with a stamping die, of means for operating said die, a sto device, and

controlling mechanism there or, said conj trolling mechanism including a two-part device arranged to be automatically actuated, a direct connection between one part of said controlling mechanism and the actuating mechanism, and an adjustable device connecting the other part of the controlling mechanismto the actuating mechanism, said nism for said leverv comprising anarm piv controlling mechanism having provision whereby the parts are retained in adjusted position,

24. 'In a machine for stamping parts of otally mounted on said lever and having ad 15 justing means whereby its position on said lever may be regulated, and a drivenshaft having operative connection with said arm for moving said lever and turret.

In testimony whereof we have signed our 20 names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM GORDON. LAURENCE E. TOPHAM. Witnesses: i

NELSON W. HowARn, ARTHUR A. RUssELL. 

